John Cobb 1632-1715 and Martha Nelson of Plymouth, Mass.

John Cobb was born Plymouth, Mass., 7 June 1632, the son of Henry Cobb and Patience Hurst. I wrote about his parents here.   John is my 9^th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis’ side. The last name is sometimes seen as Cob.

John married Martha Nelson on 28 April 1658 in Plymouth. Martha was born about 1641, the daughter of William and Martha (Ford) Nelson.

John and Martha had five children, born at Plymouth (Plymouth VR):

1.      John, born 24 August 1662, married Rachel Soule, granddaughter of Mayflower passenger George Soule, moved to Middleborough

2.      Patience, born 10 August 1668, married John Bennett, moved to Middleborough

3.      Ebenezer, born 9 August 1671, married Mercy Holmes, moved to Kingston

4.      Elisha, born 3 April 1679, married Lydia Ryder

5.      James, born 20 July 1682, married Patience Holmes

Davis gives them three additional children: Samuel, Elizabeth and Israel. None of these are mentioned in John’s will, and Susan Roser does not include them in her recent work on the family.

I descend from John and Martha’s son Ebenezer.

Although John was the oldest son of Henry Cobb, it was another son, James, who received Henry's "great lot," with the rest of the land being divided among remaining sons, in his 4 April 1678 will. John was to receive five pounds from his brother James for the great lott in Barnstable that James was receiving. He was also one of the four brothers receiving land at Saconessett (Falmouth?). He lso received one shilling. A codicil dated 22 Feb 1678/9, says son Samuel should have only two acres of upland after wife's decease and that sons Samuel, Jonathan and Henry shall equally divide remaining land, with Henry having the house after wife's decease.

John is mentioned in his grandfather James Hurst's 10 December 1657 will, receiving the Plymouth house and lands after his grandmother's decease. He also received 40 acres of land at Coaksett or Cushenett, with three of his brothers received 20 acres there as well. From what I can find, Coaksett or Cushenett were part of Middleborough that became Dartmouth.

Otis wrote that John removed from Barnstable to Plymouth and then to Taunton, and returned to Plymouth about 1678. He also gives him a second wife, Jane Woodward of Taunton, whom he married on 13 June 1676. Susan Roser writes that the Taunton John Cobb is a different man of the same name.

It does not appear John was involved in town business or held any type of office.

Martha died sometime after 1703 when she is listed as a member of the Plymouth Church.

John died 21 February 1714/15 at Plymouth "being neare in ye 83rd yeare of his life."

John’s will was dated 4 Feb. 1711/2, mentioned wife Martha and children: John Cobb, Patience Bennet, Ebenezer Cobb, Elisha Cobb and James Cobb  (Plymouth Co. PR 3:345-6). “John Cobb Senr of...Plimouth... for and in consideration of ye naturall affection & Good will that I do bear unto my Naturall and well beloved son Ebenezer Cobb...with the free consent of my wife Martha Cobb...given...one half in Deal of my whole Interest of Lands that I have at a place Commonly called Marroanset...also four acres fo meadow at Kinnotuxet Also all my whole Interest of Land that was Given to me by John Howard late of Dartmouth Deceased A part of which lyeth adjoyning the unto my fathers lands And is bounded....by....Howards Swamp...Also I do give unto my said son Ebenezer Cobb All the rest of my Interest in said Howards land lyeth at ye fishing pond...”
10 May 1693 John Cobb
Thomas ffaunce
Ephraim Morton
Ack 10 July 1693, rec. 16 March 1697
John signed the will with his mark. 

If anyone has information on where John's homestead in Plymouth was located, I would very much appreciate hearing from you!

Sources Not Listed Above:

Susan E. Roser, Early Descendants of Henry Cobb of Barnstable, Massachusetts, Friends of the Pilgrims Series, Volume 1, 2008

William Thomas Davis, Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families, 1899

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Mayflower Descendant, Vol 53, No. 2, Summer 2004: Plymouth County MA Records of Deeds

Amos Otis, Genealogical Notes of Barnstable Families, being a reprint of the Amos Otis Papers, originally published in the Barnstable Patriot, revised by CF Swift, Volume 1 and 2, 1888